“Wages are lower, access to public services is restricted. 33million people are suffering from EU membership. I know myself form my own background that the EU depresses employment and destroys jobs. My father had a fishing business which the EU destroyed."

Economists are great but you shouldn’t inhale”

Mr Gove said he is “glad” that many of the biggest financial institutions are not on the side of the Leave campaign because they have been “wrong in the past”.

He said: “They didn’t predict the global crash in 2008. In many cases they said we should be inside the single currency.

“I am glad all these economists aren’t on my side. [They are] organisations that received money from the EU. Organisations with an agenda.”

During the debate Michael Gove quoted his hero, the late Baroness ThatcherCredit:
Stephen Lock/Stephen Lock

He cited the late Baroness Thatcher, who said: “businessmen are great but you can’t inhale.”

He said he is not asking the public to trust him but to trust themselves. “I am asking the British public to take control from those organisations who are elitist,” he said.

He insisted that those backing the Remain campaign have done “very well” out of the European Union.

You are an “Oxbridge Trump”

During a series of bitter clashes Mr Islam compared Mr Gove to an “Oxbridge Trump” for claiming that the EU is a “job destroying machine”.

Mr Gove went on to directly challenge Mr Islam, accusing him of “sneering condescension”.

He said: “I think this sneering condescension to those who believe in democracy that discredits those on the Remain side.”

The Justice Secretary went on to accuse Mr Islam of being like a “Lord High Chancellor”, and cited questions that the presenter had asked Mr Cameron on Wednesday.

He said: “You said that yesterday you said something you don’t believe, and yet you accuse me of post Trump politics.”

He said that the European Union is a market that is “rigged in favour of the rich” against the poor.

The “invincible arrogance” of the European elites

Mr Gove condemned the “invincible arrogance” of Europe’s elites and said that for too long they have been unaccountable.

He said: “These are people who have seen the Euro collapse, who have seen a migration crisis on our borders. I think it’s time we said I’m sorry, you’ve had your day. Unelected, unaccountable elites it is time to say you’re fired.”

Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commissoin, receives a high five David CameronCredit:
Lieven Creemers/Lieven Creemers

He said that if Britain leaves the European Union it will be able to “kick out criminals and terrorists” and take back money from tax avoiding multi-national companies.

He insisted that Britain would be able to form a free trade agreement.

He said: “The key thing is that there is no reason why any European country would want to erect trade barriers with Britain.”

Mr Islam responded: “Your dream is we would get 52 world beating trade deals in record time.”

Project Hope

The Justice Secretary directly criticised Mr Cameron and said his appearance on Thursday was an “exercise to scare you”.

He said: “Last night what we heard was depressing and an exercise to scare you into not following through with what you know in your heart is right.

“The one thing that’s clear to me is that if we have confidence in ourselves there’s no limit to what we can achieve.

"The depressing litany that we hear from the Remain side is not the sort of approach we should take into the future. We believe in unlocking the potential of the British people.”

Britain’s EU contributions

Mr Gove was quizzed over Vote Leave’s claim that Britain contributes £350million to the EU.

Mr Islam said the figure is “misleading” because it does not include the rebate, and again accused him of “post Trump politics”.

"We don’t have control of that money. There are billions of pounds we send to the European Union every year.”

He said that if Britain votes to Remain its rebate will “only be reduced further”. He said that if Britain leaves it will have an extra £10billion to spend on the NHS

EU immigration policy is “racist”

Mr Gove said that the fact Britain is forced to allow EU nationals to come into Britain is “racist”.

When challenged by an audience member who said the leave campaign’s focus on immigration is “disappointing”, Mr Gove replied: “I agree with you. I think one of the great things about Great Britain is it’s a hugely successful multi-cultrual multi ethnic society. I would like to see immigration controlled.

“I think it’s wrong that anyone of the 450milloin citizens of the EU can be at the front of the queue and come here easily. By leaving the EU we can have a truly inclusive non racist immigration policy.”

“They think we are too stupid to leave the EU”

Mr Gove was accused by one audience member of acting like a World War I general and saying “over the top men with no idea what’s on the other side”.

The Justice Secretary responded: “I’m putting my faith in the ingenuity and the strength of the British people. They are saying Britian is too small, too poor and we’re all too stupid to be on the outside. I comprehensively reject that.”

He added: “The Leave campaign is not an alternative Government. The point of an election is to choose the Government, the point of a referendum is to give the Government instructions.”

The NHS

Mr Gove said that the NHS faces “two big problems” – an ageing population and uncontrolled free movement from the European Union.

He said: “One of the concerns that I have is that the EU has a plan to allow five new nations which have 88milloin people into the European Union. If that happens our NHS will come under additional strain.”

There are lots of talented people that could be Prime Minister after David Cameron. Count me out. “The one thing I would recommend is whatever posters you have put up on your wall, do not put up one of me.”